Rare Da Vinci painting smashes world records with $450M sale

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NEW YORK — Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi” has become the most expensive artwork to ever sell at auction, going for $450.3 million at Christie’s in New York. Dating back to around 1500, the rare painting is one of fewer than 20 authenticated works by the Italian in existence.

Original estimates had predicted bids of over $100 million for the piece. But the new record was set after approximately 20 minutes of telephone bidding, far surpassing the previous auction record held by Picasso’s “Les Femmes d’Alger,” which sold for $179.4 million in 2015.

Although lacking the detail and clarity of the “Mona Lisa” — which was created in approximately the same period — “Salvator Mundi” attracted crowds of visitors during pre-auction viewings in London, Hong Kong and San Francisco. It depicts Jesus Christ in Renaissance clothing, one hand raised in blessing and the other holding a crystal orb.

First commissioned by Louis XII of France, the 26 inch tall by 18 inch wide oil painting was later owned by England’s Charles I. But the artwork had been presumed lost since the late 18th century.

When “Salvator Mundi” reappeared at auction in 1958, it was dismissed as a copy and sold for £45 ($59). Acquired by a group of art dealers for less than $10,000 in 2005, the painting — which was in poor condition and had been heavily overpainted — was painstakingly restored and subsequently authenticated.

The record-breaking price tag will come as a relief to previous owner Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian businessman, who bought the painting for $127.5 milion in 2013.

“Salvator Mundi” is set to be the biggest lot at this year’s fall auction season, during which Christie’s and Sotheby’s can expect to achieve total sales of more than $1 billion.